Back rest



March 13, 1956 E. c. HIGHLEY 2,738,169

BACK REST Filed March 1, 1954 INVENTOR E C. H/GHLEV BY y ATTORNEYS United States Patent BACK REST Espy C. Highley, Salt Lick, Ky. Application March 1, 1954,"Se rial No. 413,110

1 Claim. or. 155-133) This invention relates to supporting means for the human body and more particularly to a portable back rest which may be transported and applied to seats such as those commonly known as bleachers, and found in many athletic stadiums throughout the country.

Heretofore, numerous back rests of this nature have been proposed but many of these are relatively cumbersome and heavy and also not readily adaptable to be detachably secured to bleacher seats or the like. Furthermore, these prior art back rests provide no means for supporting the arms of the user and when folded are still relatively bulky and difficult to carry.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a portable back rest which may be conveniently attached to bleacher seats and the like and which when collapsed or folded, occupies a relatively small space.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a portable back rest which may be conveniently and economically manufactured of readily available material and comprising a minimum number of parts.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a portable back rest in which means is provided for supporting the arms of the user.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a portable back rest which may be conveniently attached and removed from bleacher seats without necessitating the use of a tool and which at the same time, will provide a firm support for the back of the user.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of one form of back rest constructed in accordance with this invention and showing the same applied to a bleacher seat;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective showing a modified form of the back rest of this invention also secured to a bleacher seat; and

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective showing a further modified form of the back rest of this invention and attached to a bleacher seat.

With continued reference to the drawing there is shown a back rest in Fig. 1 which may well comprise spaced side bars and 11 which side bars may be disposed in substantially parallel relationship and connected by a flexible back engaging strap 12 which may be formed of fabric or the like which may be stitched at each side thereof, as at 13 and 14 to provide tubular portions 15 and 16 for reception over the side bars 10 and 11 respectively.

Each side bar 10 and 11 is formed at the lower end thereof with a reversely bent portion 17 in the general shape of a U and the end 18 of this portion terminates somewhat forwardly of the lower end 19 of the side bars 10 and 11. The portion of the side bars in contact with the seat or the like 20 may be covered with a sleeve 21 of rubber, plastic or, other suitable yieldable material to prevent marring of the seat 20 and to provide a better grip of the U-shaped portion 17 of the side bars 10 and 11.

In use the U-shaped portion 17 is slipped over the edge of the board forming the bleacher seat 20 with the bars 10 and 11 spaced apart a suflicient distance to stretch the fabric 12 of the back rest and thus provide a convenient and comfortable support for the user. Obviously, the bars 10 and 11 may be conveniently removed from the bleacher seat 20, the fabric back rest 12 removed therefrom and folded, and thereby easily carried to any desired place. 1 I

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 2 is similar to that shown in Fig. 1 and may comprise spaced substantially parallel side bars 22 and 23 joined at the upper end to provide a substantially U-shaped structure which may be covered by a fabric back support 24 secured to the side bars 22 and 23 by stitching or other suitable means 25. The lower ends of bars 22 and 23 are bent to a U- shape to provide a seat engaging portion 26 similar to that described above in connection with the form shown in Fig. 1. As in that form, the end 27 of the U-shaped portion 26 terminates forwardly of the lower ends 28 of side bars 22 and 23 and the U-shaped portions 23 may be covered with a sleeve 29 of rubber, plastic or other suitable yieldable material, in order to prevent marring or damage to the bleacher seat 30.

The manner of application and use of the form of invention shown in Fig. 2, is substantially identical with that of the form shown in Fig. 1, the U-shaped portions 26 being applied to and removed from the edge of the seat 30 and the only difference being that the side bars 22 and 23 are joined together at the top and therefore, will occupy somewhat more space during transportation thereof.

A further modified form of the invention is shown in Fig. 3 and this may well comprise spaced substantially parallel side bars 31 and 32 which serve to receive and support a back rest of fabric, plastic or other suitable material, such back rest 33 being detachably secured to the side bars 31 and 32 by stitching or other suitable means 34.

Below the back rest 33, the side bars 31 and 32 are bent forwardly as at 35 and 36 to provide arm rests and then rearwardly as at 37 and 38 to provide seat engaging portions 39 and 40. Rearwardly of the seat engaging portions 39 and 40 the bars are reversely bent to form U-shape portions 41 and 42, which terminate at their forward ends 43 forwardly of the seat engaging portions 39 and 40. The U-shaped portions 41 and 42 may be covered by sleeves 44 and 45 of rubber or other suitable resilient material to prevent damaging or marring of the seat 46.

The use of the device shown in Fig. 3, is identical with that of the device shown in Fig. 1 and the main difference is the provision for the arm rests 35 and 36.

It will thus be seen that there had been provided by the above described invention, an extremely simple and economical back rest which may be conveniently collapsed and carried to and from the place of use and also conveniently applied to and removed from the conventional bleacher seats to afford a comfortable and sturdy back rest. Furthermore, the device of this invention also provides a convenient arm rest which is normally missing from portable back rests of this type. The device may be made of extremely light-weight material and also material which in no way will be adversely affected by rain or other climatic conditions.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claim.

3 What is claimed is: A collapsible back and arm rest to be detachably secured to a seat member, said rest comprising spaced substantially 'p'ar'allel "upstanding rods, a fabric back "engag- 'in'g'memb'er received on "said rods and connecting the same, each rod b'ein'g'bent forwardlysubstantially normal to 'saidu'pstanding rods and thenrearwardly and downwardly below said back engaging member to provide 'arm rests, said rods below said arm rests being reversely bent -to-provide a U-shaped portion with the forward end of each portion terminating a substantial distanceforwardly portion "whereby said portions "may detachably "engage References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 170,327 Mazzullo Sept. 1, 1953 1,679,238 Boies July 31, 1928 1,680,723 Bloom et a1 Aug. 14, 1928 1,986,935 Levine Jan. 8, 1935 2,137,312 Thompson Nov. 22, 1938 2,158,247 Newport- May 16, 1939 2,237,736 Hill Apr.'8, 1941 2,324,570 Figgins July 20, 1943 2,612,938 Dawkins et a1 Oct. 7, 1952 2,666,474 Bossert et al Jan. 19, 1954 

